I don’t get it... so you drew a circle around the dot?I’m not trying to be rude. I’m just confused. Maybe I missed something? Maybe it’s just a personal visual thing? I just don’t see how adding a circle would change anything when the red dot is still the intended poi.Again, not trying to be rude. If something is going straight over my head please correct me.
Somewhere in the distant past, I wrote a post on using red dots for 10 meter shooting. The basic takeaway from having used a variety of red dots at 10 meters is that using red dots that close can have parallax and, in some models, quite a bit of parallax. Very definitely an issue that affected my scores. The way to solve any parallax issue is to make sure the eye is in the same position behind the optic for every shot. In my case, I accomplished this by placing a peep sight behind the red dot. It did eliminate parallax by forcing me to put my eye in the same position for every shot. It was strictly an experimental setup and not something I still use, but it worked. Bottom line is drawing a circle to center around the bull and making sure the red dot is in the center is accomplishing the same thing. Sure beats using a peep sight and a red dot to get the same results. Well done, Frank.
Quote from: DameSp on February 26, 2018, 05:08:48 PMI don’t get it... so you drew a circle around the dot?I’m not trying to be rude. I’m just confused. Maybe I missed something? Maybe it’s just a personal visual thing? I just don’t see how adding a circle would change anything when the red dot is still the intended poi.Again, not trying to be rude. If something is going straight over my head please correct me. I did not take your post as being rude and glad you asked the question.When using a red dot the dot is not in the center of the window, you have to put it there. If you move your head side to side or up and down the dot moves ( parallax ) in the window. We instinctively put the dot in the center when aiming with a red dot, however, if we're off even a little, the poi is also off. By making a circle in the center of the window, I always bring the dot in the EXACT same spot in the window. This makes for a more consistent aiming, ( at least in my view ) with every shot.Although I was shooting respectable rounds without the circle, I see a noticeable improvement with the circle.This is so easy to do and easy to remove. I would love to see some of you pistol shooters give it a try and let me know what you think. Obviously I can't stress the importance of making the circle in the center of the window. How to see parallaxRest your rifle so it is steady without you holding it. Now, look through the scope at a target. With the scope reticle resting on a small target, move your head up and down and from side to side and watch the reticle move in relation to the target. If the scope’s parallax knob has been adjusted correctly, the reticle movement will be very little, but you should be able to see some movement at all times. That movement is parallax, and it demonstrates how important your eye placement is relative to the scope. If your eye moves, you will aim for the target in the wrong place – like the fish under water.
The beauty of the reflex/holographic/red dot scopes is that heads up view works so well from the user point of view. But as I understand it, there is potential for some parallax error if the optics aren't really well designed. Better units claim minimal parallax error. Frank's modification is simply just trying to minimize the parallax error that comes from using the red dot from just any eye position that lets you acquire both target and red dot.
I have contacted several scope manufactures to see what the think.In my opinion, there are three things a close range target shooter would want in a red dot sight, eliminate parallax, a clear dot ( not fuzzy ) that doesn't cover the target but small enough to fit inside or at least cover the "9" ( not the entire target ) at 10-15 yards and a dot that doesn't wander. Given these three things and you have an red dot optic that target shooters would love. The reason I say this is because I can see the remarkable improvement in my shooting since I added the circle. If I now had a smaller dot, say a 1 MOA or even a 3/4" MOA , I would be able to be even more precise in my aiming. Keep in mind, this is being accomplished with a person that has glaucoma and poor vision. If I seem to be excited about this, you're right. I can't believe something this simple could make that dramatic of a difference.
I've been having a ball shooting my FWB 65 all Winter in the basement with a cheap red dot sight but just felt I should do better.This is the first time using a red dot sight and I really like it. However, I tried a simple mod that's really easy and it paid off for me.I made a paper template of the window and punched a 3/16" hole in the center. I then made a circle using a fine tip magic marker on the window.What this does, is allow me to put the circle around the target and bring the dot into the circle and on the "bull". Using a red dot sight is instinctive bringing the dot into the center every time. With the circle in the center of the glass, I can consistently bring the dot to the EXACT same location every time.Once I got accustom to it I instantly put the circle around the target first and then the dot resulting in better accuracy.It's like having iron sights with a front and back sight to line you up.This isn't for rapid fire shooting, but, it you're a 10-15 yard target shooter I think you'll like it. The 3/16" circle works great for the distance I'm shooting but might require a different size at a different distance.You might want to give it a try, if you do please let me know what you think. The marker come off easy with a Q-Tip and acetone.Although the circle is crude ( I'm going to take it off and make another ) I'm just having to much fun to change it right now. It looks like it isn't in the center of the glass but it is, I wasn't holding the camera 90 degrees to the window.I sent this idea to nine of the scope manufactures to see what they think. It's something that can be easily engineered into the window at very little cost that ( I believe ) target shooters and plinkers will like.
Good point, Mark, about the MOA part--I just looked at one that said "1/2 MOA click value 20 yards."However, here's an inexpensive one that reviewers figure to be 1 or 2 MOA red dot size (and 1/2 MOA click value at 100 yards), dovetail mount: https://www.pyramydair.com/product/hatsan-1x30-red-dot-sight-fits-11mm-dovetail?a=6662I like the pyramyd website for the reviews. If the description isn't quite clear, someone often gives a review with their experience. A lot of them are weaver mounts, but there are inexpensive adapters to get them to dovetail (and vice versa, too, I think).